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erially from the tribes with whom we were acquainted。 The same manners and pursuits； the same amusements； the same levity and fickleness； undoubtedly characterised them。 What we were able to learn from them was that they depend but little on fish； as the river yields only mullets； and that their principal support is derived from small animals which they kill； and some roots （a species of wild yam chiefly） which they dig out of the earth。 If we rightly understood them； each man possesses two wives。 Whence can arise this superabundance of females？ Neither of the men had suffered the extraction of a front tooth。 We were eager to know whether or not this custom obtained among them。 But neither Colbee nor Boladeree would put the question for us； and on the contrary； showed every desire to wave the subject。 The uneasiness which they testified； whenever we renewed it； rather served to confirm a suspicion which we had long entertained； that this is a mark of subjection imposed by the tribe of Cameragal； （who are certainly the most powerful community in the country） on the weaker tribes around them。 Whether the women cut off a joint of one of the little fingers； like those on the sea coast； we had no opportunity of observing。 These are petty remarks。 But one variety struck us more forcibly。 Although our natives and the strangers conversed on a par and understood each other perfectly； yet they spoke different dialects of the same language； many of the most common and necessary words used in life bearing no similitude； and others being slightly different。
English Name on the sea coast Name at the Hawkesbury
The Moon Yeneeda Condoen The Ear Gooree Benna The Forehead Nullo Narran The Belly Barang Bindee The Navel Muneero Boombong The Buttocks Boong Baylee The Neck Calang Ganga The Thigh Tara Dara The Hair Deewara Keewara …
That these diversities arise from want of intercourse with the people on the coast can hardly be imagined； as the distance inland is but thirty…eight miles； and from Rose Hill not more than twenty； where the dialect of the sea coast is spoken。 It deserves notice that all the different terms seemed to be familiar to both parties； though each in speaking preferred its own*。
＇*How easily people； unused to speak the same language； mistake each other； everyone knows。 We had lived almost three years at Port Jackson （for more than half of which period natives had resided with us） before we knew that the word 'beeal'； signified 'no'； and not 'good'； in which latter sense we had always used it without suspecting that we were wrong； and even without being corrected by those with whom we talked daily。 The cause of our error was this。 The epithet 'weeree'； signifying 'bad'； we knew； and as the use of this word and its opposite afford the most simple form of denoting consent or disapprobation to uninstructed Indians； in order to find out their word for 'good'； when Arabanoo was first brought among us； we used jokingly to say that any thing； which he liked was 'weeree'； in order to provoke him to tell us that it was good。 When we said 'weeree'； he answered 'beeal'； which we translated and adopted for 'good'； whereas he meant no more than simply to deny our inference； and say 'no'it is not bad。 After this； it cannot be thought extraordinary that the little vocabulary inserted in Mr。 Cook's account of this part of the world should appear defective even were we not to take in the great probability of the dialects at Endeavour River and Van Diemen's land differing from that spoken at Port Jackson。 And it remains to be proved that the animal called here 'patagaram' is not there called 'kangaroo'。＇
Stretched out at ease before our fire； all sides continued to chat and entertain each other。 Gombeeree shewed us the mark of a wound which he had received in his side from a spear。 It was large； appeared to have passed to a considerable depth； and must certainly have been attended with imminent danger。 By whom it had been inflicted； and on what occasion； he explained to Colbee； and afterwards （as we understood） he entered into a detail of the wars； and； as effects lead to causes； probably of the gallantries of the district； for the word which signifies a woman was often repeated。 Colbee； in return for his communication； informed him who we were； of our numbers at Sydney and Rose Hill； of the stores we possessed and； above all； of the good things which were to be found among us； enumerating potatoes； cabbages； turnips； pumpkins； and many other names which were perfectly unintelligible to the person who heard them； but which he nevertheless listened to with profound attention。
Perhaps the relation given by Gombeeree； of the cure of his wound； now gave rise to the following superstitious ceremony。 While they were talking； Colbee turned suddenly round and asked for some water。 I gave him a cupful； which he presented with great seriousness to Yellomundee； as I supposed to drink。 This last indeed took the cup and filled his mouth with water； but instead of swallowing it； threw his head into Colbee's bosom； spit the water upon him and； immediately after； began to suck strongly at his breast； just below the nipple。 I concluded that the man was sick； and called to the governor to observe the strange place which he had chosen to exonerate his stomach。 The silent attention observed by the other natives； however； soon convinced us that something more than merely the accommodation of Yellomundee； was intended。 The ceremony was again performed； and； after having sucked the part for a considerable time； the operator pretended to receive something in his mouth； which was drawn from the breast。 With this he retired a few paces； put his hand to his lips and threw into the river a stone； which I had observed him to pick up slily； and secrete。 When he returned to the fireside； Colbee assured us that he had received signal benefit from the operation； and that this second Machaon had extracted from his breast two splinters of a spear by which he had been formerly wounded。 We examined the part； but it was smooth and whole； so that to the force of imagination alone must be imputed both the wound and its cure。 Colbee himself seemed nevertheless firmly persuaded that he had received relief； and assured us that Yellomundee was a 'caradyee'； or 'Doctor of renown'。 And Boladeree added that not only he but all the rest of his tribe were 'caradyee' of especial note and skill。
The Doctors remained with us all night； sleeping before the fire in the fullness of good faith and security。 The little boy slept in his father's arms； and we observed that whenever the man was inclined to shift his position； he first put over the child； with great care； and then turned round to him。
Friday； April 15th； 1791。 The return of light aroused us to the repetition of toil。 Our friends breakfasted with us； and previous to starting Gombeeree gave a specimen of their manner of climbing trees in quest of animals。 He asked for a hatchet and one of ours was offered to him； but he preferred one of their own making。 With this tool he cut a small notch in the tree he intended to climb； about two feet and a half above the ground； in which he fixed the great toe of his left foot； and sprung upwards； at the same time embracing the tree with his left arm。 In an instant he had cut a second notch for his right toe on the other side of the tree into which he sprung； and thus； alternately cutting on each side； he mounted to the height of twenty feet in nearly as short a space as if he had ascended by a ladder； although the bark of the tree was quite smooth and slippery and the trunk four feet in diameter and perfectly strait。 To us it was a matter of astonishment； but to him it was sport； for while employed thus he kept talking to those below and laughing immoderately。 He descended with as much ease and agility as he had raised himself。 Even our natives allowed that he was a capital performer； against whom they dared not to enter the lists； for as they subsist chiefly by fishing they are less expert at climbing on the coast than those who daily practice it。
Soon after they bade us adieu； in unabated friendship and good humour。 Colbee and Boladeree parted from them with a slight nod of the head； the usual salutation of the country； and we shook them by the hand； which they returned lustily。
At the time we started the tide was flowing up the river； a decisive proof that we were below Richmond Hill。 We had continued our march but a short time when we were again stopped by a creek； which baffled all our endeavours to cross it； and seemed to predict that the object of our attainment； though but a very few miles distant； would take us yet a considerable time to reach； which threw a damp on our hopes。 We traced the creek until four o'clock； when we halted for the night。 The country； on both sides； we thought in general unpromising； but it is certainly very superior to that which we had seen on the former creek。 In many places it